REPAIRS: Demolition work has been under way this week at Children's Corner on Lowestoft seafront as part of ongoing repairs to the beach and sea wall.
Picture: MICK HOWES.

An excavator could be seen at work on South Beach during Wednesday, demolishing the access ramp by Children’s Corner.

The work taking place is part of an ongoing Waveney District Council repair project which began after severe weather and unusually high tides led to a large section of beach being closed off at the end of last October because of safety concerns for the public.

Some preliminary work on the ramp had already been carried out to make the area safe before the excavator, operated by a contractor, moved into action on Wednesday as people walking along the seafront by South Pier looked on.

A council spokesman said: “Beach scouring has led to continuing deterioration of the condition of the ramp near the East Point Pavilion, leading to increased concerns for public safety.

“Partial demolition has begun to make the structure safe and this work recommenced on Wednesday.

“A large excavator accessed the beach from the Claremont Pier and travelled north to Children’s Corner. The contractor was made aware that public safety in the area is of paramount importance.”

In October a large section of the beach was closed off by the council amid public safety concerns.

The council said closure was necessary because severe weather in the spring and an unusually high tide last October has scored away a large part of south beach.

It is said that 20pc of the beach frontage was affected by the scouring, which exposed coastal defences, damaged the sea wall and caused the access ramp to collapse at Children’s Corner.

The council is carrying out what it describes as “small-scale, phased work” to tackle erosion and prevent the loss of the promenade.

Funding has also been secured for a further study into the conditions at South Beach which will be used to form the basis of a grant application to the government to provide a long-term solution.